She looks beautiful or beautifully?

Today’s English
April 3rd, 2017

In English, there are “action” verbs followed by adverbs and linking verbs followed by adjectives. But some linking verbs function as action words as well that create confusion and lead to errors. For example, look is a linking verb as well as an verb referring to action. “Uma looks beautiful” is correct when you talk about Uma (subject)  as she is beautiful and “Uma looked at me beautifully” is correct when you talk about the action (verb) to say how she was looking at you.

The frequently used linking verbs are  seem, become, look, appear, grow, turn, feel, taste, remain, sound, smell, go, come and all be-form verbs (am, is, are, was, were).

1. Seem = to appear in a particular way. (Never followed by adverb)
It seemed easy for me. You seem happy. (Not happily)

2. Become = to start to be (Never followed by adverb)
She became tired. They have become busy. (Not tiredly, busily)

3. Appear = seem (linking verb), to take part (action word)
It appears simple. ( followed by adjective)
He appeared regularly on the screen. (followed by adverb)

4. Grow = become (linking verb), to increase in size and amount or to develop (action)
She grew tired. (Adjective)
My daughter has grown quickly.(adverb)

5. Turn = become (linking verb), to move changing direction(action)
She turned angry. (=She became angry)
She turned slowly towards me.

6. Feel
I feel happy now. (Linking verb, so adjective)
I feel strongly about this career. (Referring to action, so adverb)

7. Taste, smell, sound
The fruit tasted bitter. The idea sounds better. The soup smells good. (Linking verb, so adjective)
I tasted the fruit consciously. The calling bell sounded sweetly like a bird. I smelled the flower deeply. (Referring to action, so adverb)

8. Go = become, to move to a place
His plan never goes wrong. (Linking verb, so adjective)
He is going slowly watching everything. (Referring to action, adverb)

9. Come = become, to arrive
He came close to me. (He became close to me in relationship)
He came to me closely. (Coming near physically)

10. Be forms
She is beautiful. (Linking verb followed by adjective)
She is here. (Referring to verb, followed by adverb)

(Do you know that you can never say – “He came fastly”? Why?)